Support bracket for rinse tubs



y 1942! D. c. BRYANT SUPPQRT BRACKET FOR RINSE TUBS Filed Feb. 20, 1941 Patented July 14, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT oi rICE SUPPORT BRACKET FOR RINSE TUBS Donald 0. Bryant, Dixon, n1.

Application February 20, 1941, Serial No. 379,813

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a support bracket attachable to any conventional domestic washing machine for supporting rinse tubs in proper positions to receive clothes as they are wrung through the power wringer pivotally attached to and driven by the washing machine.

Where permanent laundry tubs are not available, it is common practice to provide portable rinse tubs, supported on benches or the like, or rinse-tubs supported on legs equipped with caster-wheels. All such arrangements are objectionable, because laundry floors are seldom level and generally, it is awkward and difficult to arrange the rinse tubs in proper relation to the washing machine. Laundry women are often forced to move either the washer or the tubs, during the laundry operation, in order to maintain the proper relationships of the washer, rinse tub and wringer. Such moving of heavy equipment is not only laborious, but on uneven, slanting floors, is dangerous. Many accidents have resulted from this practice.

Although rinse tubs are essential to the laundry equipment, it is a peculiar fact that housewives will not buy such equipment, unless it is very low in price. In fact, cheap rinse tubs are popular premiums, to promote the sale of Washing machines. It will be appreciated that under these conditions, a definite low-cost, economic limit is established.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide a low-cost rinse tub bracket that can be collapsed and shipped in compact form and then quickly and easily expanded and adjusted to attach to any conventional domestic washing machine, to securely and firmly support the rinse tub, in proper relation to the washing machinethus to facilitate the wringing of clothes, between the various receptacles.

Other objects and benefits will be disclosed in the following description and drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my rinse tub bracket with a conventional square rinse tub shown in dotted outline mounted thereon, and

Fig. 2 is a broken elevational view showing the bracket attached to a washing machine tub with an inturned rim known as a bullet-nosed tub;

Fig. 3 is a broken sectional view of a straight side washing machine tub with an out turned rim bead, and

Fig. 4 is a broken sectional view of a straight side washing machine tub with an outside metal jacket known as a double wall tub.

Now referring to the drawing I designate the main U-shaped frame by the numeral l0. Supporting the outer end of the frame is a hinged caster leg support I I pivotally mounted by rivets to the frame It by the rivets I2 and [3. The leg II is braced on the frame It by dual hinged brace members l4 and I5, and ltll by rivets l4l5andlt-ll. These dual brace members are the conventional overcenter braces which stiffly support in over-center position, but which can be mechanically broken past center to permit collapsing the hinge section. On the inner end of the frame is a hinge support arm I8, pivotally supported on frame ill by bolts I9 and 20. A series of bolt holes l9-i9" and 2il20 is provided in the frame It to adjust the arm l8 longitudinally to fit the various standard sizes of rinse tubs on the market. On the inner ends of the base frame iii are tub abutment members 2| and 22 attached to the frame Iii by bolts 23 and 24. It will be noted that a series of holes 23'-23" and 24'24" is provided in the ends of the frame I!) to provide for longitudinal adjustment of the abutment members 2! and 22. On the top of the support arm l8 are hook members 25 and 21 pivotally attached to arm lBby rivets 26 and 28. These hook members 25 and 21 are formed to permit hooking over the inner edge of the tub bead, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and it will be appreciated that by the pivotal mounting of the support arm iii no difficulty will be experienced in hooking over the inner edge of the various types of tub beads as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the only compensation required being provided in the adjustment of the tub abut ment members 2| and 22.

Also mounted on the top of the support arm I8 is a hook clamp member 29 attached to the arm [8 by the bolt 38. This hook clamp member 29 effectively hooks over the standard rolled tub bead of the conventional rinse tub 40 as clearly shown in the dotted outline at 4|.

On the outer end of the main frame II] is another hooked clamp member 3| which adjusts to the frame In by the bolt 32 and elfectively clamps the rolled bead of the conventional tub 42 as clearly shown in the drawing. By considering the drawing it will be appreciated that by this structure I have provided means whereby the various sizes of standard rinse tubs may be securely clamped on the frame [0 by theproper adjustment of the support arm [8, by means of the adjustment holes I9'-l9" and 20'20", however it will be further appreciated that when the arm I8 is so adjusted to attach various sizes of rinse tubs, then a compensating adjustment washing machines.

ated that my rinse tub bracket may be collapsed must be made in the abutment members 2| and 22 as heretofore described. On the lower end of the support leg II I have formed the strip steel members to be enclosed within a tube 33 in which is mounted a conventional caster wheel 34. The tube 33 is held in position by a thumb screw 35, which permits the tube 33 to be adjusted vertically to fit any kind of washing machine.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that I have provided a structure whereby any standard size of conventional rinse tub may be mounted on my support bracket and attached to the various kinds of domestic It will further be apprecifor storage or shipment, into very compact, flat form by pivoting the support leg ll inward, as shown by are arrow A, which is accomplished by breaking the support braces 14, I5 and l6, H beyond center, and pivoting the leg ll inward 'around the rivets l2 and I3. port arm l8 may be pivoted outwardly and in to :the plane of the frame ID by pivoting around the Similarly the supbolt '19 and 20, as shown by the arc arrow B. When this is accomplished, the hook members 25 1. In a bracket for supporting a rinse tub on a domestic washing machine, a base frame, a

fold'able support leg on the outer end of said "framea foldable support arm adjacent to the inher end of the frame, hook members on the sup- "port arm for supporting the arm from the inner edge of the washing machine tub rim washing machine tub-abutment members on the inner end I of the base frame, and rinse tub clamp means on the base and arm for fixing a conventional rinse 'tub "to the support bracket, the proportions "andfarrangements of the parts permitting the bracket to be folded fiatwise for storage or ship- "ping, o'r'expanded and adjusted to attach to a domestic washing machine.

2. In a bracket for supporting a rinse tub on a "domestic washing machine, a base frame, a

ioldable support leg on the outer end of said frame, a vertically adjustable caster wheel on the end of said leg, a pivotal support arm adjacent to the inner end of said frame, hook members on the support arm for supporting the arm from the inner edge of the washing machine tub rim, means to pivot said hooks parallel to the support arm, washing machine tub-abutment members on the inner end of the base frame, means to adjust the abutment members longitudinally of the base frame, and rinse tub clamp means on the base and arm for fixing a conventional rinse tub to the support bracket, the proportions and arrangements of the parts permitting the bracket to be folded fiat-wise for storage or shipping, or expanded and adjusted to attach to a domestic washing machine.

3. In a bracket for supporting various sizes of standard rinse tubs on different kinds of domestic washing machines, a base frame, a foldable support leg on the outer end of said frame, a pivotal support arm adjacent to the inner end of said frame, means to adjust the support arm longitudinally of the frame to fit various sizes of rinse tubs, hook members on the support arm for supporting the arm from the inner edge of the washing machine tub rim, washing machine tub-abutment members on the inner end of the base frame, means to adjust the abutment members longitudinally of the base frame to com pensate for adjustment of the arm for various sized tubs for fixing a conventional rinse tub to the support bracket, the proportions and arrangements of the parts permitting the bracket to be folded fiat-wise for storage or shipping, or expanded and adjusted to attach to various kinds of domestic washing machines and various sizes of rinse tubs.

4. In a bracket for supporting the different sizes of standard rinse tubs on various kinds of domestic washing machines; a base frame, a vertically adjustable support leg on the outer end of said frame, longitudinally adjustabl washing machine abutment members on the inner end of said frame, a longitudinally adjustable pivotal hooked support arm on the inner end of said frame, clamp means on the frame and arm to attach standard rinse tubs, and means to adjust said support arm longitudinally on the frame to fit various sizes of standard rinse tubs, said abutment and arm adjustment means being proportioned and arranged to permit the bracket to be attached to various kinds of domestic washing machines and support various sizes of standard rinse tubs.

DONALD C. BRYANT. 

